When I was diagnosed I went to a mood disorder clinic and saw one of the top drs in the world specializing in bipolar. I just happened to live in the right place. To do his assessment, which was a couple hours long if I remember, he required I have someone with me to validate what I would say. He had her sit so that I couldn't really see her without trying and I'd say something and he'd look at her for a nod or she'd give input. She definitely was aware of more mania than I was but that still is a theme; I remember depressions and am apparently more manic than depressed. It turned out to be really helpful that someone was supplementing what a very manic me was able to describe.

Maybe hang out here and in BPD for a while and see where you feel comfortable? Maybe it will be both, maybe one or the other.

Drs. who use the "just" thing make me so angry (You'd feel better if you "just lost some weight" etc.) They should try living in other people's shoes for a few days. When I started seeing my family dr one of the things I told him was that I never wanted to hear that kind of thing, that I know I'm overweight from meds and I do what I can but I only have so much energy and all I can do is my best. The only time he's ever mentioned weight was when I was weighed with a huge cast and a heavy backpack which made it seem I'd gained 10 or 15 lbs in a few months which concerned him but was easily explained away. That's why I stick with him. He's kind to me. I know how hard it is to find that. For a while I had no primary dr because nobody around where I lived would take a bipolar patient or someone on anti-psychotics. Then I started seeing a dr near where I worked and wound up reporting him to the medical board because he kept prescribing something he himself and said I couldn't take with one of my meds. So then my psychiatrist and urgent care were all I had until I found Dr. Awesome. I've followed him through 2 moves and don't care because he is that good. But I know that I'm really lucky to have him; it could be and has been very bad.

I did go into that relationship with some ground rules about the mental health care and maybe you can do that as well. For you I'm thinking things like "if you don't know something you will please contact someone who does", "you will keep my med doses at normal levels" etc.